Six golfers suddenly withdraw from $9.1 million PGA event in three days

Death, taxes, and an updated list of the field for the PGA Valspar Championship. The short list of life’s guarantees hit the golf world fast and furious this week, as six pros withdrew from the latest Tour event in a span of three days. MORE: Former PGA Tour champion, winner of two majors, dies On March 16, Keith Mitchell, Robert MacIntyre, Sudarshan Yellamaraju and William Mouw all withdrew from the Valspar Championship, which tees off March 19 in Palm Harbor, Florida.

Doug Ghim, Andrew Putnam, Kris Ventura, Justin Lower and Henrik Norlander were added to the field. Norlander was added via a sponsor’s exemption. Max Greyserman withdrew on March 17 and Joel Dahmen, a fan favorite, was added in his place.

Then on March 18 — one day before the tournament is scheduled to begin — Akshay Bhatia withdrew and was replaced by Sam Ryder. Bhatia has five straight finishes of T-16 or better to his credit, including a playoff win in the Arnold Palmer Invitational earlier this month. The Valspar Championship features a $9.

1 million purse. The tournament arrives at a fairly soft spot in the schedule between the Players Championship and The Masters. Still, household names like major champions Xander Schauffele and Matt Fitzpatrick are in the field, after falling short  of eventual champion Cameron Young at the Players Championship on March 15.